Hurricanes give warning -- use every hour to strengthen your position
8 things to do before · 9 steps during · 10 after · 5 questions answered
Last updated . Written by Project Trinetra, a program of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Unravel The Love. It is not an official government publication and does not replace instructions from your local emergency authorities.
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Hurricane season is June 1 - November 30. Preparation before a storm is named saves the most lives.
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Do this
1
Install storm shutters or have plywood pre-cut for windows
2
Inspect and reinforce roof straps and connections
3
Trim trees and shrubs to reduce projectiles
4
Keep vehicle gas tank at least half full during season
5
Fill bathtub with water for flushing toilets if water is cut
6
Freeze containers of water for refrigerator during power outages
7
Know your evacuation zone and route
8
Store documents in waterproof container
During — During the Hurricane
Once the storm arrives, stay inside and stay informed. The eyewall is the most dangerous phase.
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Step
1
Stay indoors and away from windows, skylights, and glass doors
2
Close all interior doors and brace external doors
3
Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest floor
4
Lie on the floor under a table or other sturdy object if winds intensify
5
Do NOT be fooled by the calm eye -- the storm will resume from the opposite direction
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Do not use candles -- use flashlights only
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Turn refrigerator to coldest setting and keep doors closed
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Fill sinks and bathtubs with water for washing and flushing
9
Monitor weather updates on battery-powered radio
After — After the Hurricane
Recovery can take weeks. Stay safe and patient as the community rebuilds.
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Step
1
Do not go outside until officials declare it safe
2
Avoid floodwater -- it may be electrically charged or contaminated
3
Watch for weakened structures, trees, and downed power lines
4
Do not use tap water until it is tested and declared safe
5
Report downed power lines to the utility company
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Check gas lines and appliances before use
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Use generators outdoors only -- carbon monoxide kills
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Document all damage before cleanup for insurance
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Check on neighbors and help those who need assistance
10
Boil water advisory may be in effect -- listen for updates
Supplies specific to this hazard
·Plywood or storm shutters
·Tarps and plastic sheeting
·Generator and fuel (use outdoors only)
·Coolers and ice for food preservation
·Mosquito repellent (standing water breeds mosquitoes)
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a hurricane watch and a warning?
Both matter, but they buy you different amounts of time:
·Hurricane Watch = hurricane conditions are possible in your area, generally within 48 hours. This is when you finish preparing — shutters, fuel, supplies, and deciding whether you will leave.
·Hurricane Warning = hurricane conditions are expected, generally within 36 hours. Preparation time is over. If you are told to evacuate, go now.
One important difference from a tornado: a hurricane gives you days, not minutes. That time is the advantage — but only if you use the watch instead of waiting for the warning. Evacuation routes jam badly once a warning is issued.
Should I evacuate for a hurricane or shelter at home?
This is not a judgement call you have to make alone — follow your local evacuation order. It is based on your surge zone, not on how strong your house feels.
The emergency-management saying is *"run from water, hide from wind"*:
·Ordered to evacuate — go, and go early. Surge zones flood regardless of how well built your home is.
·Not in an evacuation zone — sheltering at home is usually the plan, in an interior room on the lowest floor, away from glass.
·Mobile or manufactured home — leave, at almost any storm strength. They are not built for hurricane wind.
Know your zone before a storm is named. Looking it up while a warning is active is how people end up deciding in traffic.
Does the hurricane category tell me how dangerous it will be?
Only partly — and this catches people out every season.
The Saffir-Simpson scale (Category 1 through 5) measures sustained wind speed only. Category 1 starts around 74 mph; Category 3 and above is called *major*; Category 5 is 157 mph and up.
What the number does not include:
·Storm surge — the wall of seawater pushed ashore
·Rainfall and inland flooding
·The size of the storm, or how slowly it moves
Historically, water kills more people in hurricanes than wind does — surge and inland flooding, not the category number. A slow, sprawling Category 1 can do more harm than a compact Category 3. Read the surge and rainfall forecast, not just the category.
What should I do during the calm eye of a hurricane?
Stay inside. The calm is not the end — it is the middle.
When the eye passes over, wind drops and the sky may even clear. It can last minutes or well over an hour, and it is genuinely convincing. Then the eyewall returns, and the wind comes from the opposite direction.
That reversal is what makes it dangerous: anything the first half of the storm loosened — shingles, branches, fencing, a weakened tree — gets hit from the other side and lets go. People who step out to check damage during the eye are caught by it.
Wait until officials say the storm has passed, not until it feels calm.
How do I prepare my home before hurricane season starts?
The work that matters most is the work done before a storm is ever named — once one is, plywood and generators sell out.
Do these early:
·Cover your windows — storm shutters, or plywood cut to fit each opening now and labelled
·Reinforce the roof-to-wall connection and check for loose shingles or tiles
·Trim trees and shrubs — overhanging limbs become projectiles
·Know your evacuation zone and route, and write it somewhere the whole household can find
·Documents in a waterproof container, plus photos of them on your phone
Then, in season: keep the gas tank at least half full, and freeze containers of water — they keep the fridge cold when the power goes and become drinking water later.
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Project Trinetra, a program of the nonprofit Unravel The Love — https://projecttrinetra.com/prepare/hurricane
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Informational only — not directive. Always follow official orders. In an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number first.